Is Dover St Counter the Greatest Restaurant in London? Quite Possibly.

I don't often become a regular anywhere. In fact, unless we're talking about Ibiza (which, let's be honest, is my happy place), I'm usually chasing somewhere new. London is packed with incredible restaurants, and I love discovering them. But every so often, somewhere comes along that completely steals your heart. A place that makes you cancel other reservations because all you really want is to go back there.

For me, that's Dover St Counter.

Created by the wonderful Martin Kuczmarski,  Dover St Counter somehow manages to bottle everything I love about eating out into one perfectly executed space. It doesn't feel manufactured or overly polished. It feels effortless. The sort of place that reminds you that restaurants are about so much more than just food. They're about people, music, atmosphere and those evenings where you glance at your watch and realise you've been there for four (or maybe double that-eight), hours without noticing. I genuinely think Martin has created something incredibly special.

Then there's the soundtrack, exclusively '90s R&B. And not just any '90s R&B, the kind that makes you wonder if someone has somehow stolen my Spotify playlist. It's impossible not to get caught up in it. There have been countless times when my friends and I have completely abandoned whatever deep and meaningful conversation we were having because No Scrubs, Brown Sugar or Candy Rain has come on, and suddenly we're all singing every word. Nobody even apologises. At Dover St Counter, that's just part of the experience.

Then there are the interiors. Chic without trying too hard. Cool without being intimidating. It's the kind of place that feels equally right for a Tuesday lunch, a date night or one of those "just one drink" evenings that somehow turns into closing time. And if you can, sit at the counter. There is something magical about spending hours there, watching the chefs work, chatting to the team and soaking up the buzz of the room. It's theatre, but without any pretension. Before you know it, you've ordered another margarita and completely lost track of time.

Speaking of the team; A restaurant is only ever as good as the people running it, and Dover St Counter has one of the best. Manager Jamilly is an absolute Queen. Warm, welcoming and somehow remembers everything, she has that rare gift of making every single guest feel like they're exactly where they're supposed to be. Alongside her is a genuinely brilliant team who create the kind of hospitality that's becoming harder and harder to find. Nothing feels forced. Everyone simply wants you to have the best time possible. Special shout out to Maya, Angelo, Aiyat, Dominique and Iames.

Now, the food. Martin once told me that the menu is based on the greatest room service menu you've ever had, elevated in all the right ways. It's comforting, nostalgic, indulgent and executed brilliantly. I genuinely dream about the Ranch Lettuce Salad. It has absolutely no business being as addictive as it is, yet some how it's one of the dishes I crave most in London.

The Lychee Margaritas deserve their own paragraph. They're dangerously good. Fresh, perfectly balanced and impossible to stop at one.

The cheeseburger? One of London's very best. The tuna melt? Honestly, it feels like it was made in heaven. Martin is still on a mission to find the perfect gluten-free bread, but that hasn't stopped me. I've happily scooped out the insides more times than I care to admit because there was simply no way I was missing out.

Then there are the meatballs, generously filled with feta and swimming in a sauce you'll inevitably mop up with whatever bread is closest. The chicken is unbelievably juicy, the lobster is exactly what you'd hope it would be, and then... the Disco Fries. Order them. No discussion required. Every dish somehow feels familiar while also being better than you expected.

What keeps pulling me back, though, isn't just the food. It's the feeling. There's an energy inside Dover St Counter that I've genuinely never experienced anywhere else in London. It's joyful. Relaxed. Exciting. It feels like everyone in the room is having the best night, whether they're there for a quick bite or an entire evening. Which probably explains why you'll find me there more than almost anywhere else in the city.

And just when you think the night couldn't get any better, there's the hidden surprise beneath the restaurant. From Thursday to Sunday, the secret underground speakeasy comes alive. It's intimate, effortlessly cool and feels like you've stumbled upon London's best-kept secret. The perfect way to continue an evening you never wanted to end in the first place.

So, in case you hadn’t realised yet, when people often ask me for my favourite restaurant in London. Without hesitation, it's Dover St Counter. Maybe that's because, much like Ibiza, it has that rare ability to make you forget about everything else for a few hours. You leave happier than when you arrived, already wondering when you can come back.

Perhaps Dover St Counter is my Ibiza of restaurants. And honestly, I can't think of a better compliment than that.

Love

Lisa xx